Cosmetic applicator

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic applicator for dispensing more than one cosmetic including a housing having an interior cavity for separately storing individual cosmetics and a lifting mechanism for each chamber for independently extending and retracting the cosmetic contained therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to and the benefit of US provisional patent application number 61/995,985 filed Apr. 28, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is directed to a cosmetic applicator, and more particularly to an applicator capable of dispensing multiple different cosmetics.

Women's cosmetics can include a variety of products, for example eyeliner, eyelash and eyebrow mascara, foundation, blush or rouge and lipstick or gloss. All of these products come in a variety of applicators or containers, including pencils, tubes, trays, jars or cases. Typically each of these products are sold in their own separate container which makes it difficult to transport all of these products. Carrying all of these products in a separate container in a purse, for example, is problematic in that a larger purse is required and it is difficult to find a specific product within the purse when desired. Consequently a need exists for a cosmetic applicator which is capable of dispensing multiple different cosmetic products within the same applicator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cosmetic applicator capable of dispensing multiple different cosmetics contained within the applicator. The applicator includes a housing having a plurality of chambers located therein each containing a separate cosmetic that can be selectively dispensed through an opening in the housing. For example, the housing would include dividers within the housing to define individual compartments in which the different cosmetic would be located. The cosmetic would be in tube form and attached to a base which would have a finger actuator extending through a slot in the side of the housing which could be manipulated to raise and lower the cosmetic out of and back into the housing for application to a user's face. The housing would include a cap or a cover to protect the cosmetic located within the housing when not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cosmetic applicator of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the applicator of FIG. 1 having the cap removed and the cosmetic protruding from the applicator;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the applicator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative actuating mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second alternative embodiment actuating mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 a cosmetics applicator 10 is illustrated. The applicator 10 includes a housing 12 having a base 14 located at the bottom of the housing and a lid or cover 16 positioned at the top of the housing opposite from the base. As seen best in FIG. 2 when the cover 16 is removed the housing includes a top face 18 having a plurality of openings 20 extending into an interior cavity of the housing.

The housing illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 is triangular, however it is to be understood that other geometrical configurations are contemplated herein, such as square, circular, octagonal, etc. with the precise configuration being dictated by the number of different cosmetic components contained within the housing or for aesthetic purposes. For the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, three different cosmetics 22, 24, and 26 are illustrated. Cosmetics 22, 24 and 26 could be three different shades of lipstick, or any combination of lipstick, eyeliner, eyebrow or eyelash mascara, foundation, blush etc. Similarly although three different types of cosmetics are illustrated in this embodiment, it is to be understood that any number of cosmetics could be included, for example 2, 4, 5, 6 etc.

As shown in FIG. 3 a divider 28 is positioned within the interior of the housing which creates separate compartments within the housing to house each one of the cosmetics 22, 24 and 26. The divider 28 provides for interior walls for the cosmetic to be guided during extension and retraction out of and back into the housing. Each of the individual cosmetic, 22, 24 and 26 are positioned within a holder 30 which has a channel 32 in its base for receipt of a actuation button 34. The actuation button 34 has legs 36 with a retaining boss on the end 38 for retaining the legs within the channel 32 in the holder 30. The legs also extend through a slot 40 extending through the housing 12. The number of buttons 34 and slots 40 depend upon the number of cosmetics contained within the housing. To extend a particular cosmetic out of the housing, the thumb or finger is used to manually slide the button within the slot to raise or lower the cosmetic out of and back into the housing. The cover 16 includes a attachment component 42 on its lower surface which snaps into an opening 44 in the top face 18 of the housing. The applicator can be reusable once a cosmetic is exhausted by sliding a new cosmetic into the holder 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment actuation mechanism for the cosmetic applicator wherein each chamber within the housing would include a spring actuated mechanism 50 positioned in the base of the housing 52 below the cosmetic holder 54 activated by a release button 56. Each one of the cosmetics contained within the housing would include the spring actuated mechanism and a release button.

FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative actuating mechanism for extending and retracting the cosmetic within the housing which includes a threaded plunger 60 positioned in the base of the housing 62 and connected to the base 64 which would be rotated to raise and lower the cosmetic.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to various embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic applicator for dispensing more than one cosmetic comprising: a housing having an interior cavity for separately storing a plurality of individual cosmetics; and means within the housing for independently extending or retracting each cosmetic out of and back into the housing.
 2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the means includes a cosmetic holder having a channel in a base portion for receipt of an activation button extending through an elongated slot in the housing.
 3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator dispenses three different cosmetics.
 4. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the cosmetics includes at least two of lipstick, eyeliner, foundation or blush.
 5. The applicator of claim 4, wherein the cosmetics are different shades of lipstick.
 6. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the means includes a spring actuated mechanism in the housing.
 7. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the means includes a threaded mechanism in the housing.
 8. The applicator of claim 1, further comprising a cover for the housing.
 9. A cosmetic applicator for dispensing cosmetics comprising: a housing having a plurality of separate chambers positioned therein for receipt of a cosmetic; a lifting mechanism for each chamber for extending and retracting the cosmetic contained therein.
 10. The applicator of claim 9, wherein the lifting mechanism includes a cosmetic holder positioned within the chamber having a channel in a base portion for receipt of an activation button extending through an elongated slot in the housing.
 11. The applicator of claim 9, wherein the applicator dispenses three different cosmetics.
 12. The applicator of claim 9, wherein the cosmetic includes at least two of lipstick, eyeliner, foundation or blush.
 13. The applicator of claim 12, wherein the cosmetics are different shades of lipstick.
 14. The applicator of claim 9, wherein the lifting mechanism includes a spring.
 15. The applicator of claim 9, wherein the lifting mechanism includes a threaded mechanism.
 16. The applicator of claim 9, further comprising a cover for the housing.
 17. A lipstick applicator for dispensing a plurality of individual lipsticks comprising: a housing having a plurality of separate chambers positioned therein for receipt of an individual lipstick; a lipstick holder positioned on an end of the lipstick positioned within the chamber in the housings, wherein the cosmetic holder has a slot in a base portion for receipt of a manual activation button extending through an elongated slot in the housing.
 18. The lipstick applicator of claim 17, wherein the housing includes three chambers.
 19. The applicator of claim 18, wherein the lipsticks are three different shades. 